This document provides an overview of the first year of Africa RISING in East and Southern Africa. It describes the inception of the program from initial planning meetings through the approval and start of 10 initial projects. It outlines lessons learned around entry points, opportunities, partnerships, and logistics. It then discusses the research framework, site selection process, communication and management structures, and an upcoming visit from USAID.

1. Africa RISING
East and Southern Africa Research Review and Planning
Meeting, Arusha, Tanzania, 1-5 October 2012
Africa RISING in East and Southern Africa:
Year 1 Overview
I. Hoeschle-Zeledon (IITA)

2. The Start
Oct. 2011: Brain storming meeting in preparation of inception
workshop, agreement on countries
Nov./Dec. 2011: Development of Concept Notes
Feb. 2012: Inception workshop DSM,
decision on Program approach and name Africa RISING,
call for jumpstart project proposals
April 2012: Approval of 10 jumpstarts, contracts, fund disbursement
May 2012: Office set-up and staff recruitment
Continuously: Strategic Program/Project documents developed, teams
established

3. Approved jumpstart projects
Lead Title Budget
IITA Grain Legume Value Chain Analysis 169,447
CIMMYT Improved Post-harvest Technologies 173,000
ICRAF Evergreen Agriculture 172,000
CIAT Catalogue of Crop, Soil, Water 249,014
Management Technologies
IITA Mycotoxins in Maize and Cassava 170,439
CIAT Seed Systems Analysis 170,000
ICRISAT Seed Multiplication 270,000
CIMMYT Intensification of Farming Systems 109,999
AfricaRice Weed Management 170,000
AVRDC Enhancing Vegetable Value Chain 214,969
Grant ($120k) to MSU for first 6 months of research on Agroecological Intensification in MAL and TZ
through Action Research

4. Lessons learnt
Entry points:
- SI to build on existing policies, technologies
- Gaps identified to fill (technological, capacity, policies, institutions, existing data)
Opportunities:
- Participatory approaches towards integration of disciplines, evaluation of best
bets, land use planning
- seed systems improvement
- private sector involvement
Partnerships and engagement
- Interaction among researchers
- internal/external communication
- Policy maker/private sector engagement
Logistics and organization
- contractual issues, inadequate infrastructure

5. Research
framework
generic to be applicable across all three Africa RISING regions
flexible to allow site specific adaptation
test a set of hypotheses linked to research outputs and
associated development outcomes

6. Selection of Action
Sites
Co-location with USAID country mission investments/other actors
Representative regarding drivers of intensification to allow for scaling
up to areas with similar conditions: population density, market access,
agro-ecological condition
Provide for rigorous M&E to determine impact of AR
IFPRI: stratification/characterization of target wards and villages
TZ: Kiteto, Kongwa, Kilombero, Babati districts
MAL: Ntcheu, Dedza districts
ZAM: Eastern Province

7. Communication Strategy and Tools (ILRI leadership)
wiki , website, repositories for docs, images, presentations
M&E Plan (IFPRI leadership)
Program Logframe
Program Document: assembly of all strategic
documents context
 program
 purpose, objectives , outcomes,
 guiding principles and conceptual framework
 research design
 logframe
 M&E plan
 communication strategy
 management structure

8. Our website
Where to share news, updates and announcements

9. Our wiki
Collaboration space to support planning, sharing early
documents, reporting and organizing events.

10. Communication Strategy and Tools (ILRI leadership)
wiki , website, repositories for docs, images, presentations
M&E Plan (IFPRI leadership)
Program Logframe
Program Document: assembly of all strategic
documents context
 program
 purpose, objectives , outcomes,
 guiding principles and conceptual framework
 research design
 logframe
 M&E plan
 communication strategy
 management structure

11. Program Management Structure

12. Project Coordination Committee
(PCC)
 Provides advice and coordination on Project activities
 Provides science guidance to Project implementers
 Guides Project planning and all activities
 Advises on annual Project workplan and budget
 Oversees coordination between Project components and
partners
 Liaises with IST to oversee M&E; cc PCT on all reporting
 Keeps PCT informed of activities via the Project Coordinator
 Reviews and makes suggestions to Project Coordinator on
semiannual technical progress reports to USAID
 Plans yearly stakeholder meetings with support from Program
Communications Team
 Decisions made by consensus
 Meets annually in personal and virtually as called by the Chair

13. ESA PCC
Composition
 Chair: IITA Reg. Dir. for EA
 Project Coordinator, serves as Secretary (IITA)
 Project Chief Scientist (IITA)
 Research partners: CGIAR (1, AfricaRice), yearly rotation
sub-regional research organizations (1, ASARECA)
NARS (1, COSTECH)
and others as designated
 Project M&E Lead (IFPRI)
 Project Communications Lead (IITA)
 USAID Activity Manager

14. Science Advisory
Group
Proposed members:
Maggie Gill (DFID)
Ken Giller (WUR)
John Dixon (ACIAR)
Bruno Gerard (CIMMYT)
Dave Harris (ICRISAT)
Bernard van Lauwe (IITA)
Reps. from CRSPs
USAID gender specialist
AR chief scientists (3, ILRI/IITA)
USAID Activity Manager (J. Glover)

15. USAID visit, June 17-22
J. Glover and E. Witte from DC:
meet with project staff in Tanzania
meet with USAID country mission partners, e.g. NAFAKA, SUA
see ongoing activities
get better idea of future action sites
discuss alignment with MAFSC , USAID mission, other actors

16. Thank you!